Sparklehorse/Jesse Sykes review - SF show

Here's a review from a buddy who went to the SF show:

"Boring. Rote. Over-effected. Uninspired. We left halfway through. But Jesse Sykes was fucking stellar! She's a true star, on the
magnitude of Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris or Rickie Lee Jones, and although I'd love to see her make it big I'd hate the mainstream to
get ahold of her any time soon. That gal's a major talent, her presence is awe-inspiring, and that VOICE! Like cigarette-burned velvet. What else can I say…? she's MAGIC. And her band rules too - guitarist (Phil?) often conjures up Neil Young covering Calexico or a more restrained Marc Ribot. Ms. Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter were worth the price of admission alone."

I've seen Jesse twice and can concur tht she's quite good. Phil Wandescher, her boyfriend and guitarist, is good too. He was the guitarist for Whiskeytown (Ryan Adams' original band, for you alt-country novices).

thank you rhett, for that clarification :)


and joe m? you need some new friends ;)

sounds like jesse has just or is about to release an album:

<img src="http://www.jessesykes.com/images/splash_cover.jpg" alt=" - " />
Listen to the entire album: http://jessesykes.barsuk.com/ecard

Ok, so i went to the show last night…and whoever thought the show was boring and uninspired just must not have been a fan. which makes sense, seeing that its not the quickest music to fall in love with!

Anyway, Jesse Sykes was as billed, very good, nice voice, good mix of songs, kept it interesting, definintely worth getting there early! (she's also a sweetheart…after talking to her after her set)

Sparklehorse is just awesome. The one word that you CANNOT use to describe Mark Linkous is uninspired. in a world of faux-indie attitude and artists strutting around pretending to be weird, and more important than the songs they sing…Mark is probably the most geniune guy out there. He's not handsome, he dresses like hes in the late 1800s and he's kinda old….but the guy can play the guitar, can write a song…and the whole "lo-fi" genre owes him the world.

So the set was short, yes..i think 13-14 songs, started out quiet with "Spirit Ditch" and "Heart of Darkness", but then sped it up, playing "Hammering the Cramps", "Tears on Fresh Fruit" and "Pig". "Dont take my sunshine away" is probably the best song on the new disc…and it was great to hear live. I was surprised by the large turnout (being in baltimore AND at Rams head where shows like these rarely happen and when they do are never really advertised) and Mark was getting into it. "You're the coolest Baltimore crowd we've ever had" he said near the end…and he's so genuine, i think he might have meant it.

Bottom Line: If you love Sparklehorse, you will not be disappointed, other than the short 70 minute-ness of the show. If you are looking to get won over, you have a 70-30 shot (the two friends i took were won over).

and yes, "Gold Days" was the closing song…and its the most beautiful song he's written. :)

Did he play Happy Man or Some Day I Will Treat You Good?

Going tonite to Raleigh!

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
Did he play Happy Man or Some Day I Will Treat You Good?

Going tonite to Raleigh!

unfortunately no.

i remember:

Spirit Ditch
Heart Of Darkness
Eyepennies
Sad and Beautiful World
Hammering the Cramps
Painbirds
Don't Take My Sunshine Away
Tears On Fresh Fruit
Pig
Its Not So Hard
Saturday
Apple Bed
Gold Days


i think there might have been 2 others, or something. it was too short though. and from talking to Sykes' 70 minutes is about all you get from them. i would done well with 'Treat you Good, Ghost of his Smile or Rainmaker

too bad they didn't play DC…ohh well, maybe in 5 years!

Well, it's still a good setlist. Not all the new album, a lot of old favorites. Saturday and Apple Bed should be awesome live.

I agree with your review. Drove from Southern MD in really crappy weather, but well worth it. Jesse Sykes was fantastic and bought her CD after the show, which is something I rarely do for an opening act. Yeah, I would have liked to hear a longer set from Sparklehorse, but He did play my personal fave (Painbirds). Also got a kick out of the girl dancing, I think it was the drummer's daughter?

Originally posted by wxdude:
Also got a kick out of the girl dancing, I think it was the drummer's daughter?

Odessa, yes she is the drummers daughter…the drummer, who we were calling the retarded Karate Kid. he was awfully dramatic back there wasnt he!?

You people are treading awful close to alt-county territory. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Originally posted by Jack Black, Caucasian American:
You people are treading awful close to alt-county territory. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

hahaha. yeah, if all alt-country singers were as cute as sykes, i think we'd all be bigger fans ;)

I agree with Sonick's review 100%, except I think Mark Linkous is handsome. Missed Jesse Sykes but the setlist posted for Sparklehorse looks about right. I'd go see them again in a minute if given the chance.

Raleigh review:

Did not like Jesse Sykes, but felt bad her van broke down on the way there. Sucks. Delayed show about an hour.

Met Mark outside before the show. Got my copy of Vivadixie… autographed. GREAT set but short. Got a setlist:

Spirit Ditch
Heart Of Darkness
Applebed
Hammering The Cramps
Don't Take My Sunshine Away
Tears On Fresh Fruit
Saturday
Eyepennies
It's Not So Hard
Weird Sisters
Painbirds
Sad & Beautiful World
Pig
—
Gold Day
Homecoming Queen

Apple Bed was the best song of the night. Blew the roof off the place.